Hair curler



Nov. 30, 1937. w. H. HERMSDORF HAIR CURLER Filed Oct. 24, 1935 J7? J8for. ZL il fer jifffeivlasaorf Patented Nov. 30, 1937 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 1mm CURLEB.

Application October 24, 1935, Serial No. 46,545

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in hair curling devices ofthe type that do not require application of heat, and more particularlyto devices that are characterized by a hollow cylindrical body portionformed with an elongated open end slot in which the end of a strand ofhair is slipped preparatory to winding the strand of hair about the bodyportion for forming a curl. In the use of devices of this generalcharacter a Bobby pin or the like fastening element is applied so thatone leg of the hairpin is inserted inside of the hollow. body portion,and the other outside and over the ringlet or curl of hair. The curlingdevice may then be removed, and the hairpin will secure the strand ofhair in curled shape.

At the present time there are on the market several devices of thisgeneral type which are characterized by a rigid cylindrical hollow bodyportion on which hair is wound, and which is formed with an elongatedopen end slot of definite size. Some of such devices in order to be usedpractically and easily, make it necessary that the strands of hair to becurled are of the same predetermined thicknesses so that the strand ofhair may be snugly engaged by the edges of the elongated slot to provideadequate frictional resistance to assist in initiating the winding ofthe strand of hair about the body 30 of the curler. Other devices ofthis general type are formed with spring gripping elements disposedinside of the tubular body for gripping the end of the strand of hairpreparatory to formation of the curl. Manifestly these types of devicesdo not allow any appreciable latitude in selecting strands of hair ofdesired thicknesses for curling. Strands of hair that are too thickcannot be inserted into the slots, and strands of hair that arerelatively thin when 40 inserted in the slot will not frictionallyengage the edge of the slot, of certain constructions, for assisting ininitiating the winding of the strand of hair around the body in making acurl.

It is therefore a primary object of my invention to 'form the hollowcylindrical body, on which the strand of hair is wound, of twolongitudinally extending substantially semi-circular cross sectionalmembers resiliently connected together at a pair of adjacent ends forpermitting yielding separation of the other ends thereof defining theelongated slot, so that the edges of said slot may engage with a slightamount of friction strands of hair of a substantial range of thicknessesfor securing the end of the strand and in which a stop is provided forlimiting I the extent of insertion of a strand of hair in the' slot.

A still further object of my invention is to produce an improved deviceof the above mentioned type .which is relatively simple in construction,economical to manufacture. and which is highly efficient in carrying outthe purposes for which it was designed.

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of thedevice embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the center of the device takenat line 2-2 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the device, taken as indicated atline 3-3 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the device in the process of forming a curl andindicating the method of securing the curl in shape. 1

My improved form of curling device includes a tubular body member it ofsubstantially circular cross section and which is composed of twolongitudinally extending substantially semicircular members i l, formedfrom light weight metal, such as aluminum. These members are secured inproper edge-to-edge relation to each other by a cap l2, encompassing apair of corresponding ends of said members. The edges of said bodymembers at their planes of contact, are cut away to. form a pair ofdiametrically opposed elongated slots l3 opening from the end oppositesaid cap [2, and extending a substantial portion of the length of saidmembers. The slotted ends of said members are cutback as indicated at M,to form a flaring mouth opening into the elongated slots iii tofacilitate insertion of a strand of hair therein. It will be noted thatthe elongated slots it are of V-shape formation and the purposes andadvantages of which will hereinafter be referred to.

The cap member I2 is formed of resilient material, such as relativelysoft rubber, so as to permit lateral flexing of the body members H andopening the V-slots l3 (as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2), topermit the slots to accommodate strands of hair of substantialthickness. To insure against possible displacement of the body membersll relative to each other, I employ a tubular sleeve l5 which isdisposed inside of said body members, at the end encompassed by the cap,and said sleeve is formed with a pair of diametrically oppositeapertures [6 in which engage pivot embossments l'l stamped inwardly outofthe respective body members ll. These projections I! are ofsubstantial length and the apertures l6 of ample size so as to permitfree and unobstructed pivotal movement of said members, against thelight reaction of the resilient encompassing band of the enclosing capl2. The forward end of the tubular body l5 terminates in close proximityto the apex of the elongated V-slots I3 and serves the purpose oflimiting the extent of insertion of strands of hair into the slots andthus avoids entanglement and snagging of individual hairs in'the curlingdevice.

In using my device one or more strands of hair may be curled by graspingtheir ends, holding them slightly taut, and slipping said ends into theelongated open end slots I 3 of the tubular body, and the flaring mouthdefined by the cut away portions l4 will facilitate directing thestrands of hair into the slots. Because of the V- ing the strand of hairabout the tubular body to form curls or ringlets. By virtue of theresilient action of the body members, strands of hair of difierentthicknesses may be conveniently inserted into and withdrawn from theelongated slots of my improved device, and due to the -V- formation ofthe slot it will be manifest that relatively thin strands of hair may beinserted so as to be frictionally engaged by the edges of the slot tohold the strand of hair preparatory to winding onto the body portion informing a curl.

When the device has been rotated to wind the hair about the body of thecurler and the curler is disposed snugly against the scalp, a retainingdevice inthe nature of a hairpin such as a Bobby pin indicated at l8 inFig. 4, is then employed by inserting 116 leg inslde the open end of thecurler and the other leg outside and over the curl of hair, and servesto retain the hair in curled shape. 'The curler may then be easilywithdrawn by pushing the curl 03 of the body I0, and the retainingmember M will hold the curl in shape. When the curler is withdrawn, thecurl falls back over the fBobby pin substantially concealing it. If thecurls are formed by my device when the hair is damp or wet, theretaining members may be permitted to remain in place for holding thecurls in shape until the hair is dry and they may then be removed ifdesired.

Although I have shown and described a preferred embodim t of myinvention it will be manifest that it capable of modification andre-arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scopethereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting myinvention to the specific construction herein shown and described,except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A hair curler including a tubular body composed of a pair ofelongated, substantially semicircular members positioned one on anotherand having portions cut away to form a pair of diametrically opposed,open end elongated slots for receiving. a strand of hair therein,preparatory to curling, and means-associated with said members foryieldingly urging one toward the other for causing the edges of saidslots to exert slight frictional pressure on the strand of hair when itis first inserted in the slots to facilitate curling the hair around thebody.

2. A hair curler includinga tubular body comprising a pair of elongated,substantially semicylindrical members positioned one on another andhaving portions cut away to form a pair of diametrically opposed openend elongated slots for receiving a strand of hair therein preparatoryto curling it around said body, and means at the ends of said membersopposite the slots providing pivotal connections for said members sothat the slotted ends thereof may swing laterally toward or away fromeach other.

3. A hair curler including a tubular body comprising a pair ofelongated, substantially semicylindrical members positioned one onanother and having portions cut away to form a pair of diametricallyopposed open end elongated slots for receiving a strand of hair thereinpreparatory to curling it around said body, means at the ends of saidmembers opposite the slots providing pivotal connections for saidmembers so that the slotted ends thereof may swing lateral- 13! towardor away from each other, .and resilient means associated with saidmembers adapted to yieldingly oppose lateral separation of the slottedends of said members.

4. A hair curler including a tubular body comprising a pair ofelongated, substantially semicylindrical members positioned one onanother and having portions cut away to form a pair of diametricallyopposed open end elongated slots for receiving a strand of hair thereinpreparatory to curling it around said body, means at the ends of saidmembers opposite the slots providing pivotal connections for saidmembers so that the slotted ends thereof may swing laterally toward oraway from each other, and a band of resilient material encompassing saidmembers intermediate the slots and their pivotal connections, foryieldingly opposing lateral separation of the slotted ends of said bodymembers.

5. A hair curler including a tubular body composed of a pair ofelongated, substantially semicylindrical members positioned one onanother and having portions cut away to form a pair of diametricallyopposed open end slots for receiving a strand of hair thereinpreparatory to curling it around said body, and a tubular supportingmember disposed inside, of the body members at the end opposite theslots, said tubular member and body members being pivotally connected topermit lateral separation of" the slotted ends of said body members.

6. A hair curler including a tubular body commember disposed inside ofthe body members at the end opposite the slots, said tubular member andbody members being pivotally connected to permit lateral separation ofthe slotted ends of said body members, and resilient means associatedwith said body members and adapted for yieldingly opposing such lateralseparation of the body members.

7. 'A hair curler including a tubular body composed of a pair ofelongated, substantially semicylindrical members positioned one onanother and having portions cut away to form a pair of diametricallyopposed open end slots forreceiving a strand of hair therein preparatoryto curling-it around said body, and a tubular supporting member disposedinside of the body members at the end opposite the slots,said tubularmember and body members being'pivotally connected to permit lateralseparation of the slotted ends of said body members, one end of saidtubular supporting member terminating in close proximity to the end ofthe elongated slots and serving as a stop for limiting the extent ofinsertion of a strand of hair in said slots.

8. A hair curler including a tubular body composed of a pair ofelongated, substantially semicylindrical members positioned one onanother and having portions cut away to form a pair of diametricallyopposed open end elongated slots of substantial length for receiving astrand of hair therein preparatory to curling, and a cap for enclosingthe ends of said body, opposite the slots, said cap being of resilientmaterial having a band portion encompassing said body members andserving to yieldingly oppose lateral separation of the slotted ends ofsaid body members.

9. A hair curler including a tubular body comprising a pair ofelongated, substantially semicylindrical members positioned one onanother and having portions cut away to form a pair of diametricallyopposed open end elongated slots of V-shape formation, for receiving astrand of hair therein preparatory to curling it around said body, andmeans at the ends of said members opposite the slots providing pivotalconnections for said members so that the slotted ends thereof may swinglaterally toward or away from each other.

10. A hair curler including a tubular body composed of a pair ofelongated substantially semicylindrical members positioned one onanother and having portions cut away to form a pair of diametricallyopposed elongated slots of V-shape formation for receiving a strand ofhair therein,

means associated with said body members for yieldingly urging themtoward each other, so as to cause the edge portions of said membersdefining said slots to exert slight frictional pressure on the strand ofhair when it is inserted therein.

11. A hair curler comprising in combination, a pair of substantiallysemi-cylindrical members adapted to be juxtaposed edge to edge, and aresilient cap circumscribing said members and impelling said memberstoward each other, said members having opposite edges cut away toprovide oppositely disposed slots.

12. A hair curler comprising in combination, a pair of substantiallysemi-cylindrical members adapted to be juxtaposed edge to edge, and aresilient cap surrounding a pair of corresponding ends of said membersfor yieldingly opposing separation of the opposite ends of said members.

WALTER H. HERMSDORF.

preparatory to curling it around said body, and

